Yuma takes Brush in three matches

By John La Porte For the Brush News-Tribune

Posted:
09/05/2014 08:55:03 AM MDT

Updated:
09/05/2014 11:17:50 AM MDT

Yuma Indian Katrina Terrell readies to block a return by 'Digger Bailey Foiles during the Thursday night match-up. Foiles ended the night with six kills for the Beetdiggers. (John La Porte/News-Tribune)

Brush volleyball coaches believed that the law of averages was on their side Thursday as the Beetdiggers hosted Yuma.After all, the 'Diggers had been alternating wins and losses and had fallen to Fort Morgan Tuesday, giving them a 3-3 record going into the Yuma matchup. A Saturday tournament at Fort Morgan follows the Yuma outing.The Indians, however, had other ideas, using a hard-hitting, well-distributed attack to take a 25-15, 25-20, 25-13 victory. It was the first time Brush had lost two in a row this season."They had some big hitters that hit some heavy balls," coach Erin Gonzalez said. Brush had not seen hitting like that yet this season, she added.

Emma Mortensen does her best to return a volley and avoid a block by the Yuma Indians Thursday night. The Brush senior led the Brush attack with six kills, had four digs and served two aces against the Indians. (John La Porte/News-Tribune)

Seeing that kind of attack, and working in practice to adjust, will help the 'Diggers prepare for Patriot League play, where she figures teams like Platte Valley, Valley, Eaton and Sterling will feature big hitters."The girls fought for points," the coach said of her team's effort. "I'm not mad at our effort. We fought."Six-foot senior Emma Mortensen and 5-foot-10 sophomore Bailey Foiles led Brush's attack with six kills each, 5-foot-7 senior Shelby Wolever adding five.Wolever also racked up 12 assists and eight digs.Mortensen and 5-foot-6 sophomore Brenna Simmons had four digs apiece.Mortensen served two aces.Despite Yuma's attack keeping the Beetdiggers off balance and giving them problems transitioning from defense to offense, Gonzalez said, "I thought we passed tremendously tonight.

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"The coach has a goal of a 2.2 rating for passing, and Brush rated 2.0 on the night.Yuma was in command for the whole match; the 'Diggers never led and seldom had the score even.Whenever the Beetdiggers got close, the Indians responded.That was especially the case in game two, when a Mortensen ace and a Wolever kill from the left side enabled Brush to rally and tie the score at 13-13.Yuma senior Katrina Terrell put away a spike from the left side, then two stuff blocks, one of them by Terrell, put the Indians back out in front.

Sophomore Mady Kerr goes high for a spike against the Yuma Indians Thursday night. The 'Diggers lost in three matches, but will take to the courts again on Saturday at the annual Fort Morgan Classic where the Beetdiggers will take on Highland at 9 a.m. on Court 3. (John La Porte/News-Tribune)

A couple of kills by Indian junior Tara Traphagan helped seal the game, and Terrell and Traphagen dominated the net in game three. Mariya Mekelburg and Mallory Noble threw in some dinks to mix up the Yuma offense and keep the 'Diggers off balance.